Electrical connection



Patented Aug. 27, 1940 ELECTRICAL CONNECTION. 1

Louis A. Scott, Hot Springs, S Dak.

Application May 31, 1939, Serial No;276,-732 1 1 1 Claim.

My invention relates to improvements in plugs for connecting house service lines to electrical household appliances particularly electric irons.

The principal object of my invention is to pro- 5 vide an inexpensive socket for plugging in a service line to the terminals of an electric iron, or other appliance, so as to establish a rigid connection which cannot work loose, thereby obviating sparking and burning out of the plug 10 so common in devices of this character as now constructed.

Other, and subordinate, objects are also comprehended by my invention all of which, together with the precise nature of my improve- 15 ments, will be readily understood when the suc ceeding description and claim are read with reference to the drawing accompanying and forming part of this specification.

In said drawing:

20 Figure 1 is a view partly in section and partly in elevation of the preferred embodiment of my invention taken on the line ll of Figure 2, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 2 is a view in edge elevation, and

25 Figure 3- is a view in transverse section taken on the line 33 of Figure 1 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows and drawn to an enlarged scale.

Referring to the drawing by numerals, the

30 illustrated embodiment of my invention comprises a body portion formed of a pair of elongated rectangular plug sections I having flat inner faces 2 opposed in mating relation and detachably secured together in such relation by studs, or

35 screws 3, spaced apart in the longitudinal center of the sections. The mating faces 2 are recessed for a portion of the length of the sections to form therebetween a substantially rectangular chamber 4 in the plug opening onto what constitutes the 40 leading end of the plug, a closed butt end 5 on said plug closing the inner end of the chamber 4, and a tongue 6 extending from the closed end of the chamber 4 inwardly thereof for a short distance in the longitudinal center of the 45 chamber.

A pair of conductor bars 1 of flat resilient metal are anchored at one end in the face 2 of one section to extend from the closed end of the chamber 4 along the side walls thereof to the 50 leading end of the plug and upon opposite sides of the longitudinal center of the plug, respectively, the anchored ends being set into said face flush therewith and secured thereto each by a single screw 8 forming a binding post. The conductor 55 bars I are twisted substantially midway of their ends; as at'9, to provide free sections opposed broad side opposite and each of compound curvature and having an outwardly bowed inner end I adapted to be flexed against the adjacent side of the chamber 4 and a reversely bowed outer portion H designed to be pressed outwardly against said side of said chamber. The portions II are designed to receive therebetween a pair of the usual contact posts l2 such as the usual iron is provided with and to yieldingly grip said 10 posts therebetween, said posts spreading said portions apart against the sides of the chamber 4 whereby such gripping action is effected.

At the butt end 5 of the plug, the faces 2 of sections I are channeled, as at !3, to accommodate the usual leads M for attachment to the screws 8, and the usual sleeve l5 into which the lead sheating l6 extends.

Adjacent to the leading end of the plug, a pair of camming dogs I! are provided to bear outwardly against the inner sides of the posts l2 and urge the same outwardly against the portions II, said dogs frictionally gripping said posts and thereby frictionally locking the same in the chamber 4. The dogs I! are of elongated form and pivoted intermediate the ends thereof in opposed spaced relation to extend lengthwise of the chamber 4 between said portions II, the pivots being studs I8, extending transversely of the plug with the ends thereof anchored in the sections I, said dogs having outer substantially serrated post-engaging edges l9'and convex inner edges 20. A pair of opposed leaf springs 2i are attached at one end, as at 22, to opposite sides of the tongue 6 with free ends interposed between the inner ends of the dogs l2 and bearing against the same whereby said inner ends of the dogs are urged outwardly and in a separative direction and the outer ends of the dogs inwardly to facilitate entrance of the posts l2 between the same and the portions ll.

As will be manifest from the foregoing, when the posts I2 are inserted between the portions H and dogs H, the latter are swung on their pivots l8 into position such that the posts I2 are urged outwardly by said dogs. The posts l2 are thus frictionally gripped on one side by said dogs l1, and on the other side by the portions ll of conductor bars 1 as previously described. Thus the plug is rigidly held to the posts I2 and a double friction lock is provided preventing the plug from working loose and obviating sparking at the points of contact between said posts, bars 1 and dogs I1. The dogs I! and springs 2| are preferably, although not necessarily, formed of insulation material.

Preferably the portions ll of bars I are longitudinally slotted, as at 23, for receiving the posts l2 therein to provide for frictionally gripping said posts each at two points thereby increasing their hold on said posts.

The foregoing will, it is believed, sufiice to impart a clear understanding of my invention without further explanation.

Manifestly the invention, as described, is susceptible of modification without departing from the inventive concept and right is herein reserved to such modifications as fall within the scope of the subjoined claim.

What I claim is:

A plug to be attached to a pair of contact posts on a household appliance comprising an elongated body portion having a chamber extending partway thereinto from a leading end thereof for insertion of said posts into the same, a pair of conductor bars fixed at ends thereof in said body portion to extend from the inner end of the chamber to the leading end of the plug upon opposite sides of the longitudinal center of the chamber, respectively, said bars being resilient for relative separation and spaced apart to snugly receive said pair of posts therebetween, a pair of rigid metal dogs pivoted in said chamber on said body portion in spaced apart opposed relation and intermediate the opposite ends of said bars for rocking movement under insertion of the posts between said bars and adapted for frictional engagement with said posts, and spring means in said chamber tensioning said dogs against such rocking movement, said bars having inwardly bowed portions adapted for wedging engagement of said posts therewith, and said dogs having toothed edges adapted to engage said posts and being operative under engagement of the posts therewith to urge said posts outwardly against said bars.

LOUIS A. SCOTT. 

